SMSUFOCUS A magazine for alumni & friends of Southwest Minnesota State University
RN to BSN Program Celebrates First Graduates Spring 2015 Edition | Inside: SMSU Partners with Normandale CC
SMSUFOCUS A magazine for alumni & friends of Southwest Minnesota State University
SPRING 2015 | VOL. 34, NO. 2
Nelson Receives MnSCU Award Linda Nelson ‘92, Director of Academic Commons at SMSU, was recently honored with a Minnesota State Colleges and Universities Board of Trustees Professional Excellence Award for Administrative Service Faculty. This is the first year for the awards. Linda was among five other honorees at the board’s “Celebrating Excellence” luncheon on April 22. The award is presented to a university service faculty member to acknowledge and reward exceptional individual and professional accomplishment and to encourage ongoing excellence. “I’m really humbled to receive this honor,” said Linda. “I am an alumna of SMSU, I love this University.” Linda began at SMSU in 1992 and has worked as a Learning Specialist in Learning Resources; Assistant to the Director of the Global Studies Program; an adjunct instructor; an advisor; and as Director of Academic Commons, a position she has held since 2000. As Director of Academic Commons, Linda’s two primary responsibilities include coordinating the operations of the Academic Commons study center, which includes hiring, training and supervising interdisciplinary peer tutors and work study-eligible students to oversee the front desk, and oversight of the Educational Opportunity First-Year Experience Program, which supports provisionally admitted students. She also oversees the Assessment for College Placement and Accuplacer testing, and provides test proctoring for the Testing Center. Seeing SMSU students succeed is what drives Linda every day. Her ability to advise and pair students with advisors has contributed to student success and helped increase student retention. She has been instrumental in helping students acclimate to college life.
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Table of Contents
SMSU and Normandale CC Partnership Agriculture Highlights First RN to BSN Grads Around Campus Marshall Festival 2015 Museum of Indigenous Americans Opens Southwest Stories: David Perkins ‘86 Alumni Connections: 2015 Award Winners Announced University Archives Online Mustang Athletics Class Notes
President Dr. Connie J. Gores
Senior Writer and Photographer Jim Tate
Vice President for Advancement/ Executive Director of Foundation Bill Mulso ’93
Contributors Brittany Larson ’14 Kelly Loft ’97/MS’11 Mary Meaden
Director of Alumni Relations Michael VanDrehle ’08/MBA’10 Focus Editor and Designer Marcy D. Olson ’93/MBA’05
Special Thanks Oak Kelsey Normandale Community College
Send correspondence and story ideas to: SMSU Communications & Marketing, Attn: FOCUS 1501 State Street, Marshall, MN 56258 Email: Marcy.Olson@SMSU.edu or 507-537-7374 All cities and towns are located in Minnesota unless otherwise noted. Year(s) after names reference degrees obtained at SMSU. Year of undergraduate degree is listed first. Year of graduate degree is listed after MBA or MS.
Feature stories may be reprinted with the written permission of the editor at Marcy.Olson@SMSU.edu. Other articles may be reprinted without permission provided that credit is given to SMSU.
FOCUS (USPS 565-770) is published twice each year for alumni and friends of Southwest Minnesota State University by the Office of Communications & Marketing at SMSU. Opinions expressed in FOCUS do not necessarily reflect official University policy.
Southwest Minnesota State University is an equal opportunity/affirmative action educator and employer. A member of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system. ADA Accessible. This document can be made available in alternative formats to individuals with disabilities. Request by calling 507-537-6255, 1-800-260-0970, or through the Minnesota Relay Service at 1-800-627-3529.
To make name changes and address corrections, call (507) 537-6266 or email alumni@SMSU.edu.
Visit us online www.SMSU.edu and SouthwestAlumni.com Follow the latest SMSU news at www.SMSU.edu/today
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SMSU Offering Exercise Science Degree at Normandale CC
Normandale President Joyce Ester and SMSU President Connie Gores sign the ceremonial certificates of partnership between the two institutions. Photo courtesy of Normandale Community College. The Exercise Science degree at Southwest Minnesota State University will be offered on the campus of Normandale Community College in Bloomington as part of a collaborate agreement between the two institutions. A signing ceremony to commemorate the groundbreaking partnership was held at Normandale on April 24, 2015. “Students will be able to take Exercise Science courses, delivered by SMSU faculty, at Normandale,” said Brent Jeffers, Associate Professor of Exercise Science, who began discussions with Normandale administrators and faculty in May 2014. “Students will have the option to enter our program as freshmen, or they may earn an Associate of Science degree in Exercise Science from Normandale and then have those credits transfer to our program as they pursue a four-year degree from SMSU,” he said. The degree program will begin in the fall of 2015. The Exercise Science major at SMSU has two areas of study. Students
may pursue either an Allied Health Emphasis or a Corporate Wellness and Exercise Leadership focus. “The Allied Health track is primarily for those students who intend to pursue an advanced graduate degree in physical therapy, occupational therapy, chiropractic medicine, physician’s assistant, cardiac rehab, etc.” said Jeffers. “The Corporate Wellness track prepares students for careers in personal training, employee wellness, fitness specialist, collegiate coaching, Jeffers strength and conditioning, or sports-specific training.” At this time, the Corporate Wellness and Exercise Leadership Emphasis will be offered on the Normandale campus. Exercise Science is a growing major at SMSU following its creation five years ago. There are currently 160 majors. “It’s a growing area of study on our campus and at other institutions across the country,” said Dr. Jan Loft, interim Vice President for Academic Affairs at SMSU. “Currently, in the Twin Cities, there are no Minnesota State Colleges and Universities institutions offering a Bachelor’s degree in Exercise Science. We have a quality, affordable Exercise Science program and collaborating with Normandale will make it accessible to students in the Twin Cities area.” “The Twin Cities area has a large health industry, and a high population density,” said Jeffers. “This is an opportunity to help meet the educational needs in the metro area while growing enrollment in our program and for the University.” Students who pursue the Exercise Science degree will need 15 credits of business courses, said Loft, and those will be delivered by Metro State University, on the Normandale campus. “If they would like an online option, those business courses are available through SMSU also,” she said. “Normandale has been wonderful to work with” said Jeffers. “We have done a lot of work and research regarding this new initiative and know it is going to benefit the students in the Twin Cities metro area. This will provide a viable option when it comes to pursuing an Exercise Science degree.”
Theatre Partners With Marshall H.S. on Spring Production SMSU students got a taste of a traveling theatre troupe this past spring semester with the production of the play, Monty Python’s Spamalot. The larger-than-usual cast included SMSU students, along with Marshall High School students and community members. The first weekend of productions were held at the SMSU Fine Arts Theatre. The set was then moved across Highway 23 to Marshall High School, where it was performed in the Schwan Community Center for the Performing Arts for its second weekend of shows. “Doing that provided some unique challenges, everything from construction of the set to lighting,” said Mike Lenz, a ‘93 SMSU alumnus who was the play’s guest director. “Everything had to be mobile. “This cooperative production is a first for the Theatre program,” he continued. “It was a great experience for the SMSU students, and those at the high school. What impressed me was the way everyone pitched in to make it a great production, and the way that everyone got along so well. They were all very professional.” The performance celebrated the 10th anniversary of the musical, a comedic retelling of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table.
The production of Monty Python’s Spamalot featured a guest cameo each night in the role of Sir Not Appearing. On April 23, opening night, President Connie Gores took part in the show. She is pictured at center with (l-r) Marissa Condon, actor and MHS junior; Turi Jystad, stage manager and SMSU junior; Eukariah Tabaka, actor and MHS junior; and Annabelle Chamberlain, assistant stage manager and MHS junior. Photo by cast member, Oak Kelsey.
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Tracy Fink to Lead Ag School Marketing Tracy Fink has been named the Director of Marketing, Recruitment and Outreach for Agricultural Programs at Southwest Minnesota State University. As director, Fink will promote and recruit for the new Agricultural Education degree being offered at SMSU, as well as the other four ag degrees at the University (Agriculture, Agronomy, Agribusiness Management, Ag Solutions). Fink developed her interest in agriculture while growing up on the family farm near Lanesboro, Minn. She graduated from the University of Minnesota with a degree in animal and plant systems and earned a master’s in counseling and human resource development from South Dakota State University. She is a past state FFA president, and a National 4H Congress winner in the dairy science division. She returns to SMSU after working at the University from 1998-2004, first as a coordinator and recruiter for a joint ag degree collaboration between SMSU and the University of Minnesota, and, later, as an
administrative assistant. She previously held several positions at the Schwan Food Company, including national marketing manager, logistics project manager and supply chain projects manager for manufacturing. “I feel like I am coming back home to agriculture,” she said. “This is an ag community and an ag region and agriculture plays such a vital role in the lives of those in southwest Minnesota,” she said. “Ag Education is a new Fink degree at SMSU, and there’s a shortage, not only in the region and state, but nationwide, too. Our intent is to fulfill the needs for ag educators, locally and beyond.” Fink and her husband, Bernard, are the parents of three children: Thad, 13; Alex, 5; and Ryan, a newborn. Agricultural Education is being offered for the first time at SMSU, beginning in spring semester 2015. It has received grants from the Minnesota Ag Education Leadership Council, CHS and the Southwest Initiative Foundation in support of the program’s start-up.
Reuvekamp Named MARL Executive Director Olga Reuvekamp was recently named the executive director of the Minnesota Agriculture and Rural Leadership (MARL) program at SMSU. Reuvekamp had previously served as the program director of the South Dakota Agricultural and Rural Leadership (SDARL) program since 2012 and is a Class VI graduate of that program. A native of The Netherlands, she has a bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education and earned an Agriculture Economics for Farming Partners certificate. Reuvekamp and her family — seeking greater farming growth opportunities than existed in The Netherlands — moved to Elkton, S.D. in 2006 when they purchased the Hilltop Dairy. She is financial and human resources director for Hilltop Dairy. She was an elementary classroom teacher in The Netherlands from 1994-2006. As managing partner at Hilltop Dairy and in her position with SDARL, much of her responsibilities have revolved around marketing and communications. She has experience in curriculum development, seminar coordination and event facilitation. She is an experienced web designer, with fundraising and recruiting experience. “I am excited to take on a new role within the region’s agricultural and rural leadership as the executive director of MARL. As program director and a passionate alumnus of SDARL in South Dakota, I am familiar
with the Minnesota program. Through farming and involvement as an industry leader, I see great opportunities in Minnesota’s diverse and strong agriculture, and the future of its rural communities,” she said. The MARL program is a dynamic leadership development program for active and engaged adult agricultural and rural leaders in Minnesota. Every two years, a class of approximately 30 participants is selected. Each class has approximately two-thirds of participants Reuvekamp involved in production agriculture, and the remaining one-third are business, civic, government and organization leaders in rural Minnesota agriculture. “Olga brings with her valuable experiences from SDARL, a professional network of ag industry leaders and a strong desire to grow and build upon the success of the MARL Program,” said Bill Mulso, Vice President for Advancement and Executive Director of the SMSU Foundation. “We are excited about the unique experience and perspectives that she will contribute, and we look forward to having her lead the MARL team as executive director.” Reuvekamp and her husband, Wilfried, are the parents of three children: Els, 17; Thijs, 15; and Wim, 13. She began her duties on April 14. To learn more about the MARL Program, visit the program web site: www.MARLprogram.org.
3rd Annual AgBowl Scholarship Invitational Held Feb. 20 Over 350 high school students from 20 FFA chapters came together on the campus of SMSU for the third annual Ag Bowl Scholarship Invitational on February 20, 2015. Dozens of three-member teams and many individual competitors participated in 15 Career Development Events (CDE) ranging from a successful job interview to farm business management. The Howard Lake-Waverly-Winsted FFA chapter was the overall winner of the event and earned $1,000. Individual winners of six primary CDE earned scholarships to SMSU ranging from $1,000 to $250. Ralco is a primary sponsor of Ag Bowl Invitational, which is on track to become a Regional FFA Sanctioned Event.
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Milestone for NURSING AT SMSU First RN to BSN Students to Receive Diplomas What a great feeling it is to walk across the commencement stage, knowing you have a job waiting for you. That’s the situation that Kristin Adams and Hillary Spray find themselves in as the first graduates of the University’s RN to BSN program. Adams is a Winsted, Minnesota native who earned her RN degree from Ridgewater College in Willmar. She saw that the RN to BSN degree was being offered at SMSU a couple of years ago and although “the opportunity came up faster than I thought it would, it has fit perfectly. I didn’t know what to expect, so it’s been very rewarding. I’ve learned a lot, and grown in the opportunities presented.” She will be a substitute nurse in the Marshall School District next year, as well as work as a sub at Avera-Marshall. Most recently she was employed by Wild Rose Touching Hearts Home Care in Marshall. “My plan from the beginning was the get my bachelor’s degree,” she said. “The industry is moving toward a BSN being required. At the hospital I had originally applied, I never got a call back. I sent several applications out. I re-did my resume indicating I was in the RN to BSN program and would be graduating in May, and I got a call the next day. A lot of hospitals want that BSN ratio to be higher.” Kristin and her husband Kyle are expecting their first child — a daughter — on June 4, and the flexibility of the SMSU degree was attractive from the start. “All of us in the program are working and are moms and wives and dads and husbands. We work full time and go to school too. “ There’s a broad age range of those in the program now, she said. “I’ve been an RN for two years, and some have been an RN for 30 years. We learn from each other. We can talk to the older students
about some of the newer ways, and they can teach us what they have done for years. “I think the thing I have noticed about being in the program is that you grow in your mind, and your leadership skills.” Spray is a Milan native living in Montevideo. She, too, got her RN degree from Ridgewater. The mother of two — Parker, 5, and Elexis, 2 — she found the flexibility of the degree to be accommodating. “I did my homework after work with my kids on my lap. They were picking on my Adams and Spray computer the whole time. My little lady was pretty excited, she said, ‘No more homework!’” Spray will go to work full-time for Countryside Public Health in Montevideo. She will also continue with Lutheran Haven Nursing Home in Montevideo on a part-time basis. She has her goals set high. “I’d like to go on for my master’s degree and become a nurse practitioner,” she said. In the process of getting her RN to BSN degree, “it has opened my eyes to different techniques and different ways of thinking. I think more critically now, am more open to ideas, and have more leadership skills. The BSN gives me more opportunities professionally.” The two agree that rural health care has changed over the years. “Home care and public health are trying to help keep people in their homes longer,” said Spray. “There are more resources than people know about. Public health has opened my eyes completely.” The two chuckle when they realize they are now the answer to the trivia question: “Name the first two graduates of the RN to BSN program.” For them, it is an opportunity to advance professionally and tremendously increases their options as they continue with their respective careers.
Refer a Nurse to SMSU’s RN to BSN Program Our RN to BSN Program has been admitting students since the Fall of 2013. The RN to BSN Program at SMSU is primarily online and is intended for Registered Nurses with active nursing licenses. SMSU applied for accreditation with the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) and hosted the accreditation site visit in October 2014. In May 2015, the CCNE Board of Commissioners notified SMSU it has received CCNE accreditation for five years, the longest accreditation period allowed for a new program. At SMSU, we offer licensed RNs an opportunity to complete their Bachelor of Science in Nursing. In recent years, there has been a movement to increase the number of baccalaureate-prepared nurses in the workforce. Due to this movement, many RNs who have an AS or
Diploma in Nursing are looking for opportunities to complete a BSN program. The RN to BSN program is designed for licensed RNs who are looking for the opportunity to turn their two-year degree or diploma into a fouryear Bachelor of Science in Nursing through our accredited program. SMSU is committed to opening new doors for area nurses and serving the healthcare needs of the community by offering this program. If you know someone who would benefit from participation in the RN to BSN program, or are if you are interested, please contact Laurie Johansen, Director of Nursing, by email at laurie.johansen@SMSU.edu, call 507-537-7590 or toll-free at 800-642-0684. More information is available on our website: www.SMSU.edu/go/nursing
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SMSU Forensics Takes State Title at Home Tournament The SMSU Forensics team captured the championship in the Limited Entry Team Sweepstakes division at this year’s Minnesota Collegiate Forensics Association State Championship Tournament. The competition was held Feb. 21-22 at SMSU. Seven students represented SMSU in the competition. They were led by Nick Dorman, a senior from Marshall, Minn., who placed second in Informative Speaking; third in Communication Analysis; fourth in Dramatic Interpretation; fourth in Oratory; and fifth in Prose Interpretation. Also competing for SMSU were: • Ryan Bartz, senior, Sioux Falls, S.D.; • Megan Bruns, sophomore, Maple Lake, Minn.; • Emilie Baartman, sophomore, Brandon, S.D.; • Sydney Stewart, freshman, Rockford, Ill. • Breanna Klumper, freshman, Trosky, Minn.; and • Okeleamaka Chukwuyem, freshman, Marshall, Minn. “I’m overwhelmingly proud of our students,” said Director of Forensics Mark Fokken. “I’m particularly proud of the fact they set a goal and
achieved it. The students worked so hard, and our assistant coach, Ben Walker, really put in his time throughout the year to help them all improve.” Fokken called Dorman’s tournament one in which “everything came together. It was the best collegiate performance he’s had. He made it into the final round of all five of his categories. And to do it on his home State champion Forensics team campus was really special.” Dorman also finished fourth in the individual sweepstakes competition, which ranked all students in both classifications, regardless of team size. The Limited Entry classification refers to the number of students participating for each school, not the size of the school. “For instance, in second place in our division was the University of Minnesota,” said Fokken. Six schools competed in the Limited Entry division. Just over 100 students participated in the two-day event. The SMSU forensics team is coached by Mark Fokken and Benjamin Walker. The team is funded, in part, by the Student Activity Fee Allocation Committee.
Dorman Named to All-American Team in Forensics Individual Tournament Nick Dorman, in his senior year at SMSU, was named to the AllAmerican Team of the American Forensic Association’s National Individual Events Tournament. The award was presented at the 2015 AFA National Individual Events Tournament hosted recently by Lewis and Clark College in Portland, Ore. Dorman is the second SMSU student to ever earn this prestigious honor. Veronica Fischer achieved the designation in 2011. Dorman was one of only 16 students in the nation selected for the team. He was selected from among the thousands of students who compete in intercollegiate speech activities nationwide. The award is based on a number of criteria, including competitive success, academic performance, character and community service. SMSU Director of Forensics Mark Fokken nominated Dorman for the award.
Dorman competed at the national competition in five events, including Informative Speaking, Persuasive Speaking, Communication Analysis, Prose Interpretation and Dramatic Interpretation. These five events resulted in tying an SMSU record for the number of events qualified for at the national contest by a single student. Dorman graduated this spring with a double major in Communication Studies and Chemistry. He was named this year’s Outstanding Senior by the SMSU Alumni Association.
SMSU Enactus Team Places in Top Eight at the National Competition The Southwest Minnesota State University Enactus team placed in the top eight at the national competition in St. Louis, Mo. in April. The finish matches the team’s highest placing ever. Enactus is a campus group with an emphasis on entrepreneurship. SMSU’s six-member Enactus team — formerly known as Students in Free Enterprise — won its quarterfinal-round pool and then finished second in its semifinal round. That placed the team anywhere from fifth to eighth nationally. The top teams from the four separate pools advanced to the “Final Four’” and the second-place teams were not ranked specifically from fifth through eighth place. “I thought our team did just a wonderful job,” said Denise Gochenouer, Assistant Professor of Marketing and the Enactus advisor. “It was amazing. The judges said that we nailed everything — that we hit all of the points and covered all the criteria. I can’t tell you how proud I am of our students. They were outstanding ambassadors for the University.” The first-place Walmart Women’s Economic Empowerment Project
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award was for the group’s Bright Future project, which centers around helping individuals with troubled pasts find employment. “These individuals struggle with unemployment due to a lack of skills and the stigma associated with a police record,” said Gochenouer. “As a consequence, many are homeless. We feel that focusing on teaching them how to properly purchase, consume and prepare meals will empower them to lead more healthy and successful lifestyles. We also work with them on writing resumes, how to interview, child care issues — many things to help them find gainful employment.” Representing SMSU on the presentation team were Lee Holt, a senior Management major from Windom, Minn.; Amanda Heesch, a sophomore Marketing major from Sioux Falls, S.D.; Aaron Lange, a junior Marketing major from Marshall, Minn.; Amy Marroquin, a sophomore Psychology major from Carver, Minn.; Craig Fischer, a senior Communication Studies major from Ghent, Minn.; and Paige Patterson, a sophomore Management major from Eagan, Minn.
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Marshall Festival Scheduled to Return Oct. 22-24, 2015 Organizers of the “Marshall Festival ’15: What Feeds Us” are moving forward with plans for the Oct. 22-24, 2015 event, held on the campus of Southwest Minnesota State University. Marshall Festival ’15 is accepting proposals for readings in fiction, poetry and creative nonfiction as well as panel discussions concerning topics pertaining to rural writing, culture, art and mixed media presentations. Proposals should appeal to rural culture in the broadest sense, and work pertaining to the Upper Midwest will be given priority. Deadline for proposal submissions is Aug. 1, 2015, or until available spots are filled. Only electronic submissions will be accepted and can be sent to: Marianne.Zarzana@smsu.edu. There are no registration fees. Information will be posted as it becomes available at: www.smsu.edu/ marshallfestival. For lodging options, go to: www.visitmarshallmn.com. The featured performers for Marshall Festival ’15 include: • Susan Power, an author from Chicago, Ill. Her debut novel, Grass Dancer, received the 1995 Hemingway Foundation/PEN Award for Best First Fiction. She is a descendant of the Sioux Chief Mato Nupa, and is a former editor of the University of Chicago Law Review. • Gordon Henry is a poet and fiction writer and an enrolled member
of the White Earth Band of Ojibwe of Minnesota. He is a professor of English at Michigan State University. • Philip Dacey is an Emeritus Professor of English at SMSU and the author of 13 full-length books of poems, most recently Church of the Adagio. He has won numerous awards, including three Pushcart Prizes, and was recipient of numerous fellowships (Fulbright, Woodrow Wilson, Bush Foundation, Loft-McKnight, Minnesota State Arts Board). • David Allan Evans was appointed South Dakota Poet Laureate in 2002. He was a professor of English and Writer in Residence at South Dakota State University, and is the author of nine collections of poetry and the author or editor of seven other books. He was the first South Dakotan to receive a National Endowment for the Arts grant. • Bart and Ross Sutter have become regional favorites over the years and are regular contributors to past Marshall Festival events. Bart is a 1972 alumnus and the author of seven books. He is the only Minnesota author to win three Minnesota Book Awards in three separate categories — poetry, fiction and creative nonfiction. Ross is known for his baritone voice and mastery of a wide array of instruments. Mark your calendars for “Marshall Festival ’15: What Feeds Us!” and visit: www.SMSU.edu/go/MarshallFestival for more details.
Featured performers:
Susan Power Gordon Henry Philip Dacey David Allan Evans Bart & Ross Sutter
A celebration of rural writing and culture
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New Museum of Indigenous Americans Opens at SMSU His artifacts span “over 20 years” of Thanks to the generosity of Emeritus collecting, he said. “Whenever I travel, I Professor of Theatre Bill Hezlep, a new try to find someone that will take me out museum made its debut at SMSU on April (to look for artifacts),’ he said. 27, 2015. Michele Sterner, Associate Director The Museum of Indigenous Americans is of the Office of Access, Opportunity, located in Social Science 101. It is the site of Success, along with her brother John, the former Anthropology Museum. former head wrestling coach at SMSU, Hezlep donated a large amount of his were consultants on the project. “There Native American artifacts to the University are some artifacts, like the pipe, that and they make up a good percentage of were not displayed in public because the museum, said Dr. Michael Hofstetter, they are meant to be sacred and only Professor of History at SMSU who seen or touched by certain people and coordinated the new museum. “We already used in certain instances,” said John had some artifacts, so we decided to Sterner. “My sister and I helped go convert the space and dedicate it to Native through the artifacts — what he had, American materials,” he said. what was valid, each item’s strengths and Hezlep said his interest in Native weaknesses, that sort of thing,” he said. American artifacts goes back to his youth Hofstetter gave thanks to many who in Pennsylvania. “I was a Boy Scout, and helped make the museum possible, I was a counselor at a camp when I was a especially students Adam Savariego teenager,” he said. “I was made a member of (senior, history major, Granite Falls, the Order of the Arrow, an elite group that Minn.) and Megan Lipetzky (senior, dealt with Indian rituals and history. history major, Clements, Minn.), who “When I moved out here, I was did much of the museum set-up. surprised that people really didn’t know “I’m really happy with the way it the history. The largest Indian uprising turned out,” said Hezlep. “I had so many in history happened in Minnesota,” he Above, a student looks over Native American artifacts on display. continued. “The Indians were much more Below, President Connie Gores with Bill Hezlep who donated many artifacts I collected over the years and I self-sufficient than we will ever be. They artifacts from his personal collection to the University. thought it would be good to share them with young people. They can see how survived. They used stone tools, hunted things used to be, and that there were people here long before we were.” their food, and made their clothing. I have great respect for them.”
SMSU Hosts “Why Treaties Matter” Traveling Exhibit
A traveling exhibit, “Why Treaties Matter: Self-Government in the Dakota and Ojibwe Nations,” was on display from Saturday April 18 through Friday, May 8 in the Student Center, upper level, at Southwest Minnesota State University. A number of panel presentations were also hosted on campus in conjunction with the exhibit. The exhibition was part of a statewide tour with visits throughout the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities System. In 2010, a resolution creating a unique partnership of the Minnesota Indian Affairs Council, the Minnesota Humanities Center and the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian in Washington, D.C. was approved by the tribes residing in Minnesota, making it possible for the exhibition to
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be developed as an educational tool for Minnesota audiences. The exhibition included 20 free-standing banners with explanatory text, historical and contemporary photographs and maps, and a 10-minute video entitled, “A Day in the Life of the Minnesota Tribal Nations.” The exhibit revealed how Dakota and Ojibwe treaties with the U.S. government affected the lands and lives of the Indigenous peoples of the place now called Minnesota, and explained why these binding agreements between nations still matter today. It is meant to share important cultural information with all Minnesotans, that they may better understand the true circumstances surrounding Minnesota land, its use and the treatment of the land’s Indigenous peoples today.
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SOUTHWEST STORIES David Perkins ‘86 Engineering Technology
“It was the fall of 1982 and, fresh out of high school, I remember driving my Ford Maverick from my hometown of Ellsworth, Minn., to the campus of SMSU. “I was a nervous wreck. My heart was pounding as I made my way to one of the residence halls along Birch Street. The thing that struck me was the friendly, warm environment and that I felt comfortable right away. The campus had a real small-town feel. I returned for a visit in 2010, and though the campus had expanded, that same atmosphere greeted me. “I had a minor role in the 1985 production of You Can’t Take it With You. I was an Engineering Technology student but decided I wanted to be in a university theatrical production. I was amazed I got a part, even if it was only two lines. When I think about my SMSU experience, the fun I had in that production comes to mind.” Perkins is now finishing his ninth year as an Associate Professor of Business at Grand Canyon University in Phoenix, Ariz., after 17 years in industry.
“The first time I realized I might want to teach was when I was a junior at SMSU. The department chair expressed an appreciation regarding how I organized my laboratory reports for a particular course, and asked me to present my approach in creating these reports to another class. I felt a sense of exhilaration during the Perkins presentation, especially in terms of my interaction with the students. I discovered I enjoyed watching and helping others learn. “SMSU was a great place to go to college. I was given the opportunity to do some fun and interesting things, and it gave me the opportunity to pursue my interests, realize my abilities and discover my career path.”
We invite you to share your experience with us! Visit: www.SMSU.edu/go/southweststories to submit your story!
Bart Sutter ‘72 Busy Performing and Publishing in 2015 Bart Sutter, a ‘72 alumnus, is spending “The most meaningful part of the tour was time traveling around Minnesota with his moving these attentive people who attended brother, Ross. our shows to tears and laughter with art that The touring show “North Country reflected their own lives,” he continued. “The Characters: Songs, Stories, and Poems from most important surprise was how much the Land of 10,000 Lakes” brings music and hunger there is in ‘Greater Minnesota’ for spoken word to communities around the genuine art that aims to communicate and not state. The tour is supported by a grant from just show off.” the Minnesota State Arts Board through the The Sutter Brothers duo will return to arts and cultural heritage fund. SMSU for an evening performance during the “It’s been a joy to bring our show to so Marshall Festival on Saturday, October 24. many venues where we’d never performed “It is an honor to provide the closing as a pair. Our faith in what we have to offer performance for the Marshall Festival was confirmed by the strong responses of our at SMSU. Ross and I have had fabulous audiences. Though Ross and I have lived in experiences at that festival over the decades— cities for decades now, we learned for certain Ross, left, and Bart after their show in Dawson on Feb. 19 both as performers and as members of the sure that our material still connects in smallaudience,” Sutter said. “One year, I remember, town and rural Minnesota,” said Sutter. I was so moved by what I’d witnessed at the Minnesota towns on the tour have included Detroit Lakes, Crosby, festival that I started sobbing as I drove away. I had to pull over till I Tyler, Elbow Lake and Cloquet, to name a few. calmed down. Let me tell you, it ain’t every literary festival that has the “Ross and I grew up in rural communities. We were both intensely power to make a Swedish-American bawl.” interested in the arts, but opportunities to experience and explore the Bart Sutter is the only Minnesota author to win a trio of Minnesota arts were limited. Examples of working artists in those communities Book Awards in three separate categories — poetry, fiction and creative were rare,” explained Sutter. “We both feel some sense of mission about nonfiction. He recently completed his first book of haiku, Chester Creek bringing our work to smaller communities. Very often, though, those Ravine published this spring by Nodin Press of Minneapolis. He was places can’t afford to pay artists a fair fee. The additional funding supplied named the first Poet Laureate of Duluth, and has written for public radio by the Arts Tour Minnesota grant through the state arts board made it and had three plays produced. One, Pine Creek Parish: A Verse Play with possible for us to bring our show to all these smaller but receptive and Music, made its world premiere at SMSU in 2010. surprisingly lively places, such as Braham and Dawson.” Ross Sutter is known for his baritone voice and mastery of a wide The tour continues this year with more dates and communities being array of instruments: guitar, button accordion, mountain dulcimer and added. Visit www.thesutterbrothers.com for a full list of dates. Upcoming Irish drum. He has appeared on A Prairie Home Companion and at the stops include Clara City, Sauk Centre, and Montevideo. Winnipeg Folk Festival, among hundreds of other venues.
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[ alumni connections ]
Dave Werpy ‘79 Delivers 2015 Commencement Address Dave Werpy, Vice President and General Auditor for 3M Corporate Auditing, delivered an inspiring keynote speech to the Class of 2015 members at Commencement exercises May 9. Werpy is a 1979 alumnus with a degree in accounting. He heads 3M’s global internal audit group, which is staffed out of 15 countries around the world. He grew up in Marshall, and it was while helping his father, Galen, in the Super Valu bakery that he learned a lot about the value of hard work. “To this day, I’m up at 4 a.m., and at my desk at 6 a.m.,” he said. Werpy comes from a family of SMSU grads. His brother, Todd, and two sisters — Pam (Miller) and the late Sue (Bruss) — all graduated from SMSU. Werpy graduated on a Saturday, began work at 3M the following Tuesday, and married his wife Melissa (Johnson, a Marshall native) six weeks later. He’s been with 3M, and Melissa, ever since. He’s held numerous positions with 3M over the years, including audit manager for Europe and Asia Pacific, staff controller for the U.S. and later Europe, finance director for 3M’s French subsidiary and finance director for the Asia Pacific area. He has held his current position since 2005. All three of his children — Seth, Jonas and Andrea Walstrom — graduated from international high schools in Europe, and he’s appreciative of the opportunity to have worked overseas. “Traveling extensively or living in another country changes your life and your
perspective forever,” he said. His message centered around the “bubbles,” or comfort zones, we each live in. “People who recognize and understand these Werpy at the 47th Annual Commencement exercises. bubbles in their life, and who work consciously to grow them, are far more likely to achieve professional and personal success and fulfillment,” he said. Werpy also talked about saying “yes” to opportunities, and making the most out of those opportunities.
2015 Alumni Award Recipients Announced Each year the SMSU Alumni Association recognizes alumni and friends who have made significant contributions of time, talent, or financial resources to help advance and bring positive recognition to Southwest Minnesota State University. This year the Alumni Association will honor six individuals during Homecoming 2015. This year’s recipients include: Alumni Achievement Award • Steve Baumann ’74, CEO of Vexilar, Minneapolis, Minn. • Gene ’71 and Lucy ’76 Tokheim, Owners of Tokheim Stoneware, Dawson, Minn. • Mark Diekmann ’83, Vice President of Paragon Dental, Cabarete, Dominican Republic
Graduate of the Last Decade (GOLD) • Marri Carrow ’08, Regional Director for the Western Hemisphere at US Grains Council, Panama City, Panamá Honorary Lifetime Member • Mike McHugh, Retired professor of Speech Communications, Chatham, Ill. To hear the Southwest stories and celebrate the accomplishments of all this year’s award winners, attend the Alumni Awards Luncheon on Friday, Sept. 25 at noon in the Conference Center Ballroom. The event is open to the public. Tickets to the luncheon are $12 and are available online at www.SouthwestAlumni.com/AwardsLuncheon2015. To read about past award winners, visit: www.SouthwestAlumni.com/Awards.
Spain Alumni Trip May 11-20, 2016
Join fellow SMSU alumni as well as students and faculty from the SMSU Music Program on a tour of Spain in 2016! The tour will visit Madrid, Burgos, Segovia, Lerma, and Salamanca. Highlights include the Prado Museum, the Royal Palace, and Flamenco show.
Cost of the trip is approximately $4,000
Cost includes airfare, hotel, transportation, travel insurance, breakfast and dinner each day. A full-time English speaking tour guide will escort the group throughout the trip. This trip is open to alumni, community members, and friends of SMSU.
A down payment will be due in early September 2015. Contact Michael VanDrehle, Director of Alumni Relations: Michael.Vandrehle@SMSU.edu or Dr. John Ginocchio, Director of Bands: John.Ginocchio@SMSU.edu
8 | FOCUS
[ alumni connections ]
UNIVERSITY ARCHIVES NOW ONLINE! Digital archives of many past Southwest Minnesota State University student newspapers and the FOCUS alumni magazine are available online now, thanks to a project by McFarland Library personnel led by Pam (Van Houten) Gladis. “It’s really the culmination of a lot of work by a lot of people,” said Gladis, instruction and web services librarian. The website address is: archives.smsu.edu. There is a direct link to the site, also, on the Alumni and Foundation pages. “It’s not fully completed yet, but we’ve got a good start, and we’re happy with where it’s at in these early stages,” she said. The project came about by chance two yeas ago when university librarian Kathleen Ashe received an inquiry from PALS, a program of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system, asking if SMSU would be interested in serving as a beta site for an open source digital repository software product they were exploring. Digital archives had been on the library’s radar for a few years, so when Ashe brought the opportunity up to Gladis, she jumped at it. “It was free to us that first year as we worked closely with PALS to test the software, and we then received an SMSU Foundation grant for the second year. The Foundation has also committed to the cost of our next annual contract, as well.” Scanning of the newspapers took a special large-format scanner on campus, and that work is being completed by library technicians Peggy Anderson and Kristi (Akland) Petersen ’98. A marathon begins with a single step, and that’s the approach Gladis took in the early stages of the project back in the summer of 2013. “The initial beta project was loading the FOCUS alumni magazine issues, and since moving ahead with the system the project has been loading the student newspapers,” said Gladis. “We don’t have every edition of the student newspaper scanned. We started with just the loose editions we had — and we had boxes and boxes of them. We have most of them in bound volumes, but I don’t want to have to snip those until I have to, just to fill in the gaps.” The newspaper has had four names over the years – Impact (twice), Reader and the current Spur. Archives are housed in the Striegel Archives, on the fifth floor of the McFarland Library. It is in that climate-controlled room that many important university historical documents are housed. Gladis manages the archives. The software has the capability to stream video, audio and photos, also. “We haven’t begun to touch what it can handle,” she said. “Obviously, the more you do, the more storage you will need on the servers, and the more the cost is associated with that space. “One of the neat features is that it has optical character
recognition (OCR) that is searchable throughout all of newspapers and alumni magazines. If you wanted to search John Doe, type that in, and it will bring up all references in all of the papers or FOCUS magazines in the database,” she said. “Alumni are Gladis going to like that feature. They can be in California and search from there about a particular subject or person from their days at SMSU.” Gladis is an Alvord, Iowa, native and 1995 SMSU alumna with a degree in English Literature. She worked in the library as a student, and upon graduation, immediately enrolled in a master’s program for library information science at the University of Iowa. She would later receive a second master’s, in education leadership, with a technology emphasis, from Minnesota State University Moorhead. She is in her second stop at SMSU, having worked at the University from 1999-2001. The has also been a media specialist for Marshall Public Schools (K-8) and the distance learning librarian at Minnesota West Community and Technical College. Gladis has served as the shepherd for this project, one that will benefit anyone with an interest in the history of the university. “This tool helps make the history of SMSU readily available to our alumni all across the globe,” said Michael VanDrehle, alumni director. “I commend Pam and her team for making this project happen. It already is a great asset to our alumni community.” Gladis is quick to give credit to others. “(Webmaster) Alex MacArthur did just a great job designing the page, and Peggy Anderson and Kristi Petersen have done so much scanning work. This is a project that has been a lot of fun for me, learning so much about the University’s history.”
Search the archives today: archives.smsu.edu
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FOCUS | 9
[ athletics ]
Sanchez Takes the 800 Meter Conference Title Alejandro Sanchez became the first Southwest Minnesota State University track athlete to win an individual outdoor conference championship at the Division II level during day two of the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference/US Bank Championships on Saturday, May 9 at the Lillibridge Complex. Sanchez won the 800 meters with a time of 1:53.54, finishing ahead of Minnesota State’s Victor Brown, who recorded a time of 1:54.79. For his first place finish, he has also earned All-Region honors from the US Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association. All-Region accolades are given to athletes who recorded the top-five ranking marks in their region.
Sanchez, a native of Plano, Texas, earned all-region honors in the 800-meters. He had the fastest time among all Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference runners recording a 1:50.90 earlier this month during the Dakota Relays in Sioux Falls, S.D. The time ranks as the 25th fastest in Division II this season. The Southwest Minnesota State men’s team finished with 29 points to finish 11th at the championship. The SMSU women’s team recorded two points and finished 14th overall. Sanchez is the first SMSU athlete to earn a conference outdoor championship since Doug Wallace won the steeplechase during the 1992 season when SMSU was a member of NAIA. Will Hanson joined Sanchez in earning AllNSIC honors on May 9 as he placed third in the Sanchez crosses the finish line to win the 800 meters javelin with a school record toss of 59.98m.
Whitney Burmeister Named NSIC’s Top Female Scholar-Athlete The Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference announced recently that SMSU junior volleyball student-athlete Whitney Burmeister was named the 2015 NSIC Willis R. Kelly ScholarAthlete Award recipient. The award — now in its 30th year — recognizes the NSIC’s top female student-athlete. It’s the second straight year SMSU has earned the honor and seventh in school history. Rachel Patnoe received the award last year joining Christy Kubat (2002), Janelle Gibbs (1999), Paige Karno (1996), Katy Pivec (1995) and Shauna Wendland (1989) as the previous Mustang female student-athletes honorees. Burmeister will be recognized July 15 at the NSIC Hall of Fame Banquet at the Best Western Premier in Burnsville, Minn. Burmeister will receive a $2,500 post-graduate scholarship. A native of Lakefield, Minn., Burmeister is majoring in exercise science. A 2012 graduate of Jackson County Central High School, she holds a 3.98 grade point average as a three-year member of the SMSU
volleyball team. Burmeister has made the SMSU Dean’s List every semester and was named an SMSU Scholar-Athlete and Academic All-NSIC honoree the last two years. Burmeister is the recipient of over a dozen scholarships at SMSU and is involved in many clubs and organizations. On the volleyball court, Burmeister has been a member of three NCAA tournament teams, including the 2014 squad that finished as the NCAA national runner-up. This past fall she was named to the all-tournament team at both the NCAA Central Region Tournament and NCAA Championships. She finished the 2014 season leading SMSU with 612 digs, ranking as the sixth highest total in team history. She also recorded 97 kills and 30 service aces, while appearing in all 36 matches. Burmeister has played in 88 matches during her career, recording 1,128 digs, 428 kills and 94 service aces. She currently ranks seventh in program history with 3.57 digs per set.
SMSU Leads Effort in “It’s a Slam Dunk, Don’t Drive Drunk” Campaign SMSU was a double winner this year in the third annual “It’s a Slam Dunk Don’t Drive Drunk” pledge campaign collecting the most overall pledges and the highest percentage of pledges from fans in attendance. SMSU collected 1,477 pledges from their fans the weekend of February 20-21, 2015. It also had 47 percent of its fans in attendance sign the pledge, the highest percentage in the NSIC. In all, 7,691 pledges were signed across the league. The NSIC will donate $1,000 ($500 for each contest) to the Make-A-Wish Foundation in SMSU’s name. Each person that signed the pledge card received a blue wrist band
with an inscription of the theme “It’s a Slam Dunk-Don’t Drive Drunk,” the NSIC logo along with the name “Drake” for Drake Bigler, the son of head men’s basketball coach, Brad Bigler, and his wife, Heather. Late on a Saturday night in July of 2012, a drunk driver swerved into oncoming traffic and collided with the car carrying Brad, Heather, and Heather’s grandmother. Drake was killed in the crash. He was five months old. The driver of the other car had two previous drunk driving arrests in 2000 and 2005. In honor of Drake and to encourage students and fans to not drink and drive, Brad and Heather Bigler, the NSIC along with the TEAM Coalition have brought this campaign to NSIC basketball schools.
Complete Spring Recaps: Baseball / Golf / Softball / Tennis / Track & Field FOR THE LATEST HEADLINES, FALL SPORTS NEWS AND MORE, VISIT SMSUMUSTANGS.COM
10 | FOCUS
[ class notes ] 1972 Muriel (Odden) and John Coulter (‘71) traveled to South Africa in the summer of 2014 where they went on safaris and delivered school supplies to an orphanage. Bart Sutter recently published a new book of haiku called Chester Creek Ravine published by Nodin Press of Minneapolis. He is regularly touring with his brother, Ross, performing “North Country Characters: Songs, Stories, and Poems from the Land of 10,000 Lakes” across the state. 1973 Warren Cook retired from BIC Printing after 35-1/2 years. He is currently in his 36th year of umpiring baseball. 1976 Stephanie Dickinson published a novel, Love Highway, in January of 2015. The book explores the difficult themes of female desirability, vulnerability and dependence, substance abuse and domestic violence. Dickinson currently lives in New York City. Her novel Half Girl and novella Lust Series were published by Spuyten Duyvil.
1979 Craig Porter welcomed a grandchild, Morgan, in September 2014. 1982 J. Christian Andrews is the owner and operator of Great River Inn Bed and Breakfast in Little Falls, Minn. 1984 Bill Fenske recently received his Doctor of Business Administration degree from Metropolitan State University. Bill continues as a Senior Healthcare Executive at Rice Memorial Hospital in Willmar, Minn. In addition, Bill serves as an adjunct faculty member at South Central College and St. Mary’s University of Minnesota. Bill and his wife, Anne, recently became grandparents of twin girls. 1985 Todd Werpy has been named the Chief Technology Officer for ADM. He was formerly the Senior VP for Research & Development for ADM. 1992 Lieutenant Colonel Aaron Schultz is a Professor of Military Science at South Dakota State University. He is a veteran of Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Desert Storm. He resides
in Sioux Falls, S.D. with his wife, Danelle, and three children. 1993 Corey Christopher has been named the women’s softball coach at Iowa Lakes Community College, Estherville, Iowa. Dawn (Hoechst) Hengel is a web specialist for AgStar Financial Services. 1995 Pam (Van Houten) Gladis was married to Jeff Gladis (‘87) in Hawai’i on May 20, 2015. Greg Wymer (MBA ’05) is the Director of International Students and Scholars at South Dakota State University, Brookings, S.D. 1996 Chad Adams is the city manager of Albert Lea, Minn. He is married to alumna Anna (Schmeling ’97). 1997 Michael Coyle (MBA ’07) is now the Chief Executive Officer at Coteau Des Prairies Health Care System in Sisseton, S.D. 1998 Melanie (Broderson) Pedersen is the Director of
Sutter ‘72
Rudolph ‘00
Collections at US Bank in Marshall. Jen (Citrowske) Elness is a first-grade teacher at Fulda Elementary School. 1999 Sunni and Anthony (’97) Hemingsen moved to the Salt Lake City, Utah area in the fall of 2014, where Sunni is the marketing director at Granger Medical Clinic. They have two children, Henry, 10, and Greta, 4. 2000 Nate Rudolph (MS ’03) is a middle school principal at Sauk Rapids-Rice and a member of the 2015 SMSU Athletic Hall of Honor class. 2001 Kimberly Holm (MBA, ’07) recently began a new job at State Farm in Slayton, Minn. Natalie (Thoreau) Pohlman earned a Master of Communication Leadership degree from Drake University, Des
Pohlman ‘01
Moines, Iowa. Her studies included a focus on entrepreneurship, which she is using to start her own business, Friend in Deed. 2002 Timothy Haugen, and his wife, Stephanie, welcomed a daughter, Aubrey Jane Haugen, on Jan. 14, 2015. Brad Stromdahl was inducted into the Class of 2014 Athletic Wall of Fame at Lakeland Union High School on December 27, 2014. He now resides in Tucker, Ga. Jacob Swartout was recently sworn in as a police officer for the city of Savage, Minn. He formerly worked for the Anoka County Sheriff ’s Office. 2003 Todd Lee was named the junior high and high school principal and superintendent for the Howard (S.D.) School District.
MUSTANG PRIDE in Amazing Places
Muriel (Odden) ‘72 and John Coulter ‘71 are pictured here with children from the orphanage in South Africa to which they delivered school supplies. Congratulations to Muriel and John! They won a $50 gift card to the Barnes & Noble Campus Store to use in the store or online at smsu.bncollege.com to pick up more Brown & Gold gear! You can show your Mustang Pride in Amazing Places! Submit online at www. SouthwestAlumni.com/AmazingPlaces. Winners will see their photo published in FOCUS and receive a $50 gift card to the SMSU Barnes & Noble Campus Store. To be considered, photos must be high resolution, clear, with the University name, “SMSU” or a Mustang logo clearly visible. Digitally manipulated photos will not be eligible.
FOCUS | 11
[ class notes ] Rebecca Thompson is a technician for the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. 2004 Angela (Fredrickson, MBA ’06) and Jacob (’03/ MBA ’07) Fahl welcomed a son, Jonah Christian Fahl, on May 12, 2015. Tim Sell is a Senior Financial Analyst at The Schwan Food Company in Marshall. 2005 Kristin (Loe) Binsfeld welcomed a baby, Wyatt Binsfeld, in April of 2015. Michael Boulton and his wife, Justine, welcomed a daughter, Elizabeth Ann, on May 1, 2015. Niaz Patwary has been selected as a Commonwealth Fellow by the British government. Niaz will be traveling to Glasgow Caledonian University in Scotland to teach and research for a semester. 2006 April (DeVos) and Matt Thompson welcomed a baby, Brantley Thompson, on March 23, 2015. 2007 Adam DeVos and his wife, Holly (Reynertson ‘08), welcomed a baby boy, Wyatt James DeVos, on Dec. 22, 2014. Dan Griffith married Jolene Kranz on Nov. 3, 2014, on the beach in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic. Jamie (Enger) Lanners graduated with her master’s in Healthcare Administration with a concentration in Gerontology from the University of Phoenix.
12 | FOCUS
Jillian (Wallace) and her husband, Jeremy Voss, welcomed a baby, Malia Paige Voss, on March 12, 2015. 2008 Jake (MS ’13) and Kelley Jo (Fransman) Heimerman welcomed their second child, Kinsley Lynn, on May 11, 2015. Ryan Jaeger started a new business, Paddle Tap, on Lake Minnetonka. Paddle Tap is the same idea as a pedal pub but it is a boat instead of a bicycle. He was featured on a Twin Cities television station in March 2014 for his first-of-itskind idea in the Midwest. Krista (Bakewell) and Tyler Johnson welcomed a baby, Landis Bernie Johnson, in March 2015. Anthony Ortmann and his wife, Brooke (Averill ‘07), welcomed a baby, Everly, on Feb. 26, 2015. They have one other child, Presley. Brieann Harris married Dan Remiger on Dec. 13, 2014. 2009 Tara Adolph opened a law office recently in Green Bay, Wis. She went to law school at Marquette University. Trenton Dammann was sworn in as a lawyer in the state of Minnesota in December 2014. Todd Hopkins and his wife, Deanna (Vander Top ‘09), welcomed a baby, Zuri Alanna Hopkins, on Jan. 13, 2015. 2010 Whitney Dierks married Matthew Fischer (’09) on Sept. 6, 2014. The couple resides in Sioux Falls, S.D. Reed Fricke (MBA) has been named the director of
Thompson ‘06
Outpatient and Ancillary Services at Sanford Worthington Medical Center. Charlotte McMullen and David Schincke welcomed a baby, Miles David Schincke, on May 11, 2015. 2011 Joseph Koktan and his wife, Samantha (O’Neill ‘08) welcomed Braxton Joseph Koktan on Jan. 20, 2015. Joe recently took a position in the News Services Department at the University of Minnesota. Megan Myers and husband Bryan welcomed a baby, Molly, on Sept. 12, 2014. The family currently lives in New York Mills, Minn. Holly Zinn is the education director at the Pearson Lakes Art Center in Okoboji, Iowa. Allison Zollner was hired as an associate chiropractor at Rock County Chiropractic in Luverne, Minn. She graduated from Northwestern Health Sciences University in Bloomington, Minn., with her Doctorate of Chiropractic in October 2014.
Heimerman ‘08
Dammann ‘09
2015. She is a first-grade teacher for Rochester Catholic Schools. Caitlin Joy Lemmen and Paul Dean Redding were married at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Waseca, Minn., on May 2, 2015. Samantha (Stohm) and Braden Parks welcomed Tazdin James Parks on July 17, 2014. The family currently lives in Brandon, S.D. Samantha (Borowski) and Holly Smith were married on November 22, 2014. 2013 Erika (Rust) Brake is an Ag Business Processor at Continental Western Group. Brooke Burmeister is the Jackson County water resource technician and feedlot officer. Evan Forde (MS) has been named the head wrestling coach at Minot State University. He was a graduate assistant coach at SMSU from 2011-13, and the head assistant in 2013-14.
2012 Toni Harms began a new position as an account sales executive at Powell Broadcasting in Le Mars, Iowa, in September 2014.
Deena Van Heuveln and Kordell Van Heuveln welcomed a baby, Quentin Paul Van Heuveln, on March 30, 2014. The family currently lives in Kerkhoven, Minn.
Chloe Jensen married Eric Schluttner on April 11,
Torrie Ward received her master’s degree in Social
Amato
Work at the University of Saint Thomas/Saint Catherine University. She works for the Upward Bound program at SMSU. FACULTY/STAFF Joseph Amato, Emeritus Professor of History, recently published a new book The Book of Twos. He gave a book talk at the Marshall-Lyon County Library on April 23. He and his wife, Kathy, are in the process of moving to the Twin Cities area. IN MEMORIAM Daniel W. Baerenwald (’94) passed away on March 3, 2015. Susan Chicos (’79) passed away April 20, 2015 at the age of 57 at Park NicolletMethodist Hospital in Minneapolis. Anthony Odom, former men’s basketball coach, passed away March 31, 2015. Jeffrey Londren (’77) passed away on Feb. 2, 2015. Joan Lois (Hanson) Oftedahl (’70) passed away on June 11, 2014 at the Clarkfield Care Center at the age of 85.
WHAT’S YOUR STORY? There are many ways to share your news with other alumni: email alumni@SMSU.edu call 800-260-0970 click SouthwestAlumni.com mail SMSU Alumni Office 1501 State St. Marshall, MN 56258
A GRAND ENTRANCE
Progress continues on SMSU’s new entrance sign! A distinctive new entrance to the campus of Southwest Minnesota State University will soon greet students, faculty, staff and friends of the University. The University Entrance Project began last year with the construction of a retention pond on the southeast corner of campus, near the intersection of Highways 23 and 19. The retention pond was a collaborative project between the University and the city of Marshall. Construction continues this summer and will include signage, landscaping and a fountain that will give the area a unique,
welcoming appearance and define the entrance to SMSU. The project will be completed in late summer 2015 with the addition of a full-sized bronze Mustang, the focal point of the project. An official dedication will be held in September. Deeann Griebel, a 1980 alumna and the Senior Vice President-Investments for Moors & Cabot Investments, Mesa, Ariz., will match $100,000 raised for the project. Alumni wishing to donate to the University Entrance Project can make a gift online at www.SouthwestAlumni.com/Entrance.
To make a gift, visit www.SouthwestAlumni.com/Entrance Or use the reply card included in this edition of FOCUS to support this exciting project at SMSU.
NON-PROFIT U.S. POSTAGE PAID Permit No. 97 Marshall, MN
SMSU Alumni Office 1501 State Street • Marshall, MN 56258 Change Service Requested
If FOCUS is addressed to a son or daughter who has graduated or no longer maintains a permanent address at your home, please email alumni@SMSU.edu to provide the current address or call toll-free 1-800-260-0970 to notify us of the change.
UPCOMING EVENTS 2015 All-Summer - MN Twins Tickets * June 5 - St. Paul Saints June 12 – SMSU Golf Classic June 28 – A Day at Valleyfair July 18 – Football Alumni Golf Outing July 24 – Rochester Honkers August 22 – Smokefest September 26 – Homecoming
SAVE THE DATE:
*Get discounted tickets to the Minnesota Twins all
Saturday, Sept. 26, 2015
summer long! Take part in the Alumni Association’s Minnesota Twins Season Ticket Program online at www.SouthwestAlumni.com/MNTwinsTickets2015
Events held throughout the week of September 20-27, 2015
For information & event tickets, visit: www.SouthwestAlumni.com
For more information visit:
www.SMSU.edu/Homecoming